What Is the Tradition of Cigars When a Baby Is Born?

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Traditionally, cigars have been handed out after the birth of a child, and is believed to have stemmed from the birth of a son, at which point fathers handed out cigars, which were both rare and expensive, in celebration of the child's birth. In modern society, the tradition is not widely practiced, in part because fewer individuals smoke.

The tradition of handing out cigars after the birth of a baby was primarily upheld in England and the United States, including American Indians. The tradition also stemmed from the fact that fathers were generally excluded from the birth process until after the baby was born, at which point the men congregated with friends and family to celebrate by smoking cigars.